1st LD Writethru: At least 3 senior Al-Shabaab militants killed in Somalia

At least three senior Al-Shabaab militants including most wanted insurgent leader are believed to have been killed in southern Somalia by Somalia security forces on Tuesday night, officials said on Wednesday.

Abdirashid Hassan Abdinur, Minister of security for Jubbaland State said the three were killed during a security operation in Bulo-Gadud location, some 30 km north of the coast town of Kismayo, the administrative capital of Jubbaland state in Somalia.

Abdinur said Mohamed Mohamud Ali alias Dulyadayn, most wanted Al-Shabaab leader was among the militants killed in a special operation in lower Jubba region.

"This was successful operation conducted by Somali National Army's Commandos and Jubbaland forces at Bulo-Gadud location. Mohamed Mohamud Ali known as Dulyadayn was among three militants targeted, he was behind terrorist attacks inside Somalia and neighboring Kenya, the two others are Farhan and Mo'alim Isaak," Abdinur said.

The Somali government has placed a bounty on Dulyadayn's head and urged the public to volunteer information that could lead to his arrest.

Some reports say the special forces using fighter jets conducted operations in Farwamo and Bulo-Gadud villages, and engaged in a fierce gunfire with Al-Shabaab militants.

Al-Shabaab pulled out its fighters from hideouts in the area, following the foreign forces attack.

Al-Shabaab militants did not comment on the latest military victory against them in southern Somalia. Kismayo is 500 km south of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Somali National Army's Commandos division "Danab" backed by foreign troops have carried out successful operations in Middle Shabelle region several times earlier, but this is the first one of its kind in lower Jubba region. Endit